Awesome
Love Next DoorI really don’t have much to complain about with this one! I loved it! The characters were three-dimensional, believable, and interesting! They made you care about them all, including the side characters! The acting was fabulous, the romance cute and sweet yet not superficial, and the stories engaging. I stayed interested and invested all the way through! Some people might say it lagged toward the end, but even though it was slower toward the end, I found the characters and their relationships so interesting to watch that I still quite enjoyed it without boredom or clock-watching. I rarely rewatch an Asian drama, even if I like it, but I’ll probably revisit this one in the future!
Also, some of the typical Asian drama BS that no one likes didn’t happen! No really stupid misunderstandings that go on forever, no really bad love triangle (there was another guy and another girl, but used well instead of stupidly/badly), no dumb long-standing break-up for dumb reasons followed by an extended seperation before reunion.
But one thing did surprise me–there was a lot more drama in the middle than I was expecting from such an otherwise light-hearted show! But they didn’t drag things out too much. This show really gives you the feels! ALL of them! Humor, love, angst, heartbreak, healing, warmth, joy, and fun. Multiple great kiss scenes, too! (The bed kissing scene was one of the best I’ve seen, imo)
The only “complaints” I could think of were that the secondary couple of the 2FL and 2ML was, in my opinion, a little rushed and the guy was a little bit weird in some ways. I didn’t understand his initial strong hesitation or why it suddenly changed. Also they didn’t get enough proper screen-time to make the depth of their feelings 100% believable, but you just have to assume a lot happens off-screen. Their chemistry was good (although that said, I thought they could have given us a better kiss than what we got, my opinion) in any case. The only other “complaint” is that the reconciliation of another couple could have been made a little more…rewarding? Technically dramatic though it was, in my opinion it lacked…something. I’m not sure what exactly I wanted or what I thought was missing, but…there was a lot of build-up and the reconciliation wrapped up so fast it made my head spin. I think I would have liked a slightly longer scene. Maybe more hugging, and a little more discussion.
But those two “complaints” are very mild, and did not detract from my enjoyment of the show. Also, they are just MY opinion, and you may not see those things that way at all. So don’t let my slight “grievances” with the show deter you! Add it to your watchlist now!
Oh, and it has a happy ending! (Though I would have liked to see the wedding/s and maybe even a time-skip to the kids in the future, but that’s just me being greedy :) )
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It's a heartwarming series and the actors have very good chemistry.
I was so impressed, I rewatched it as soon as it finished. This is a series that heals the hearts of working people like me. I stopped to think and explore my own interests just like Seok-ryu did. I love the long friendship between Seung-hyo and Seok-ryu. They are half of each other's lives. I love this kind of relationship. They make me believe that their love will be eternal, that nothing can destroy it. The chemistry between the actors is also very good.Was this review helpful to you?
Lots of marketing for little delivery!
Lots of marketing for little delivery! Before this series premiered, they did huge marketing! I started watching, but it didn't captivate me enough for me to continue, the main couple is simply boring, without any chemistry, I even thought they were two children, what boring characters! Only the secondary couple that stood out in the series, their performance was incredible, but I stopped watching because overall the series didn't captivate me, I had a lot of expectations for this series, but it's a really bad series!___________
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No Chaos, Just Great Characters and Even Better Chemistry
This is one of those dramas that pulls you in effortlessly and keeps you hooked without needing over-the-top twists or chaotic subplots. It’s such an easy watch (in the best way) addicting, comforting, and genuinely engaging from start to finish.What really made it shine for me were the characters. Their chemistry felt so natural, and the banter was easily one of the highlights of the entire show. It never felt forced or overly dramatic. Just witty, warm, and believable. I found myself smiling through so many scenes because of how well the relationships were written.
I also have to mention both the main couple and the secondary couple. I completely fell in love with both. Usually, one couple ends up standing out more for me, but here they felt equally compelling, which made the whole experience even better. I was just as invested in one as I was in the other, and that’s honestly something I don’t see done this well very often.
Another thing I really appreciated is that the story didn’t rely on some wild, unnecessary subplot to stay interesting. It stayed grounded and focused on the characters and their connections, which made everything feel more natural and satisfying.
The only reason I’m not giving it a full 10 is because of the FL’s brother storyline with the ML’s colleague. Not only did it feel tedious and unnecessary, but it also got way too much screentime for what it was. It didn’t really add anything meaningful to the overall plot, and I found myself skipping most of their scenes.
Also, a small general frustration, this isn’t just about this drama, but something I’ve been noticing more lately with K-Drama shows: the way finales handle weddings/engagements. It feels like every time couples get engaged, but we rarely actually get to see the wedding or that final step. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does leave things feeling slightly incomplete, and I wish they’d follow through just a bit more.
Even with those flaws, this drama was amazing and super easy to recommend if you’re looking for something heartfelt, character-driven, and genuinely enjoyable.
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Not perfect, but I fell in love with these charachters
I really liked this drama. I went into it with high expectations and it didn't disappoint. Is it a perfect and flawless series? Absolutely not, it certainly has some. It's full of cliches and unnecessary drama, I wouldn't even call it a comedy as it's classified. Above all, it started very well, towards the middle it got lost, but luckily in the last few episodes it went back to being even more beautiful than at the beginning. I fell in love with the characters, even with their flaws, and it seemed like a realistic series, in its own way, because life isn't perfect.The love story is super cute (I love friends to lovers) and the second couple is gorgeous. I LOVED THEM SO MUCH!😭❤️
So, Love next door isn’t perfect but it's worth watching, and laughing, crying, suffering and falling in love with these characters. I’ll miss them.
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Mediocre drama
this drama is so overrated like seriously I started watching it because of all of the hype from TikTok to ended up watching boring show with a pathetic ML and FL seriously a 34 dude acting like teenager.. getting angry for nothing ( you don't love me than fine don't talk to me than I can't response to your call 😒 ) a FL is so immature and hella loud she's not better than him .... even if you're childhood friends we don't Bicker like this is not even funny it's childish... for someone who have in family with stomach cancer and has removed a part of it it's impossible that she can eat that much .....i skipped alot of it i was dying from bordioum one of the worst drama this Year! Mediocre drama...and the fandom is so pathetic anyone who doesn't like the drama are their enemy ...I said I don't like the ml acting they strated to attack me like their Life depand on it 😒. ..you have the right to love it as you like and I have the right to hate it as much as I want...Was this review helpful to you?
Such a disappointment of a potentially good drama.
You know what’s crazy I know these actors can act. I’ve seen Jung Hae In provide a stellar performance before, and I’ve watched Jung So Min have so much chemistry with Seo In Guk in The Smile Has Left Your Eyes that they make guest appearances together in new shows years later. But this isn’t hate toward the actors, it’s hate toward the script or directors because the episodes are just too long and too slow. It feels like nothing is happening and everyone is running around in circles. We got so much of Seunghyo’s pov so we know how much he likes Seok Ryu. But we hardly get any perspective of Seungyho from Seok Ryu’s pov.I’m pretty sure we are shown one glimpse of her when she was a kid saying that she liked him, but that is genuinely it. Like their confessions lacked sincerity and if you’ve watched enough dramas I feel like you can tell they’re just following a script if that makes sense. There’s no casual skinship that a normal real couple would have. And jumping to marriage when we’ve barely even seen them date just feels jarring. It looks like Seok Ryu is just reluctantly accepting his feelings and only confides the truth when something huge happens to Seunghyo or when it’s convenient for her. Like her confession to this boy that’s been in love with her for years, is simply “I realised I’m bored without you for like a day so we might as well date”. And just the main thing is NOTHING IS HAPPENING IN THIS SHOW. The plot doesn’t move forward and no one learns from their mistakes. The two dads have the most chemistry out of everyone.
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Its like eating a communion wafer
This is the most Bland drama that I've watched this entire year.There are multiple plot twists that have no payoff and hold no bearing over the story.
You'll be told the most sad or depressing thing about a character only to find out in an episode or two they'll be fine and it never really mattered anyways.
Its strange.
Relationship takes FOERVER TO GET GOING. Too much back and forth and the side stories were not compelling.
I feel like the show would have felt fresh and mature maybe like 10 or 20 years ago.
But we know how childhood romance dramas go, we've seen a hundred and this was one of the blandest.
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Lovable characters —lackluster story
I finally finished love next-door and I had high hopes for this one and unfortunately it disappointed me. I’m sorry please don’t hate me but I think I’m only gonna rate it a 6.5-7 out of 10.The storyline was dry. I felt like they could’ve done a lot more with the characters. The only saving grace was the second couple and the writers didn’t even flesh that out as much as they could’ve. The finale was completely drawn out for no reason because it was very anti-climatic.
Don’t get me wrong this story had some
Lovable characters (Dan Ho, Mo- Eum, yeon du, the lavenders, the dad 🥹) it’s just the story could’ve been better.
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This review may contain spoilers
Illness as the redemption arc
"Love Next Door" follows the story of two best friends, Seok Ryu and Seung Ho, who grew up together. However, as life became busier, they gradually distanced. Their paths cross again when Seok Ryu returns to the country, rekindling their connection.My review is kind of a reality check because Oppa couldn't distract me this time xD
How illness was magical bandage to all the problems:
1. Yeon Du gets a fever and collapses, and suddenly Dan Ho realises his mistake and responsibilities.
2. Poor Seok Ryu has to go through cancer just for her family to finally notice her and have their big emotional redemption arc. It’s as if a regular sickness wouldn’t have been tragic enough to get them to care. It had to be something huge.
3. The younger brother gets priority treatment because he was sick as a kid, and that status never seems to expire. It's not wrong but neglecting the other kid ain't fair either.
4. Then there’s the ML’s mom, whose short-term memory loss from stress is what finally forces them to have a real conversation about marriage. Because talking it out normally? was difficult for the writers:D
5. And, of course, the ML has to get injured at work for the FL SAY OUT LOUD her true feelings.
It’s funny how illness and injury are like the secret sauce to fix everything in this drama.
Things that consistently pissed me off?
1. Her mother. There's a fine line between suggesting a career path and straight-up forcing someone to return to a place they've repeatedly said, in language clear enough for even a toddler to get, they don't want to go back to. But no, she just had to be so persistently annoying about it, like her hearing was selectively off every time Seok Ryu said, "No thanks."
And as if that wasn’t bad enough, we get one episode—one—where she magically redeems herself, only to snap right back to her old ways immediately after. Classic. She continues treating Seok Ryu like she's a clueless 18-year-old, completely ignoring the fact that her daughter has probably figured out a thing or two about life by now. But nah, in mom’s eyes, she's still too young to know anything worth listening to.
The father was the only sane person in her family, but overly dramatic but I guess it was needed for his character.
2. Okay So I love Jung Hae In but his character, UHMMM, I'm not really a fan.
The first incident, when he was walking behind her and she started running because she thought she was being followed by a stranger—why was his response, "You should've looked back"? BROTHER, YOU COULD'VE SAID IT'S YOU OR CALLED HER NAME! What's with the victim blaming? 😭
Then, when Seok Ryu was sick, she tried to reach out to him sooo many times. Forget friendship, it was basic human decency to pick up at least once. Like, they've known each other for at least 10 years—what kind of dickhead behavior is that? I'm sorry, but if you were her friend, you would've put aside your feelings and at least reached out to her once. I SAID WHAT I SAID. They weren't even on bad terms! She has a boyfriend; I will never understand this kind of ghosting. It's not like she was even aware of his feelings, wtf. FELT SOO IMMATURE and then he hits you with a "I should've reached out to you sooner" shit smh.
3. Seok Ryu's ex coming back was the worst and most saddening thing for me. Like, what was even the point of him? I honestly felt bad for the guy. He wasn’t wrong to feel what he felt and to be in that depression mode—he was taking care of everything alone. Her family had no idea, but he was there, and it’s sooo pathetic how at the start it almost leaned toward him cheating on her. Messed up. And then Seok Ryu keeps him around without giving him a proper rejection or any real confrontation.
Things I liked
1. Seok Ryu sucked at being honest about her feelings and emotions, which is sooo relatable as the older sibling. I literally cried for her :( I liked how she finally found her dream.
2. Mo Eum? She’s soooo straightforward and easily the vibey person throughout the whole show—I loved her! Her bond with Yeon Du, I lovedd it so much.
3. One of the things I also liked was the ladies' group. That was one wholesome friendship, and all the ladies were so cutesy.
Honestly, the last few episodes were a bit of a dud. Nothing really happens! And that unnecessary fight between the aunties? Like, WHY was that even a thing:d
Overall, nothing stood out to me. Sure, the corporate culture and work-life stress were highlights, but beyond that... meh. The leads are cute, but that's about it.
Thank you for reading my review:D
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Absolutely Disappointing and Annoying
This is another disappointing KDrama that I have seen. The storyline is horrendous and the FL is very annoying. I do not understand how a man can love a woman who screams at people, kicks others and throws her shoe at him. This is so disrespectful it is not funny. In the majority of cultures in the world, this is unacceptable. The FL’s English intonation is some of the worse I have heard. The entire premise of the story does not warrant 16 episodes. They could have ended everything in four episodes. The ML’s character is very pathetic and childish and borders to the point of being considered a loser. The FL’s character attitude is so schizophrenic - meaning that she can shout and scream, be aggressive and physically abusive to the ML but when it comes to other situations, she is quiet as a mouse. I also hate her dishonesty. The writers could have done a better job in this day and age of writing better and more realistic storylines. I also find that kdramas pretend that characters do not sleep together after being in a relationship for several years and that is so unrealistic and moronic. All these thirty something year old virgins - so laughable. Don’t waste your time to watch this.Was this review helpful to you?
No
Should you watch this drama? No.Is the plot interesting? No
Was this drama comedic like it states it is? No
Did the leads have romantic chemistry? No
Basically, this drama has absolutely nothing to offer as a romantic comedy. TVN should have given this drama 12 episodes, since clearly the writer and director had no idea what direction they were going. The same two people who created hometown cha cha cha, giving us the worst drama of 2024? Unbelievable. I am convinced the people who enjoyed this drama are either fans of the actors, but so am I, and will love any drama with romance and a hot kiss scene. It is indeed my opinion that they are all in denial about what a huge disappointment this was, but I believe one day they will accept how bad it truly was when the actors go on to be in an actual romantic comedy that is good (fingers crossed!).
Jokes aside, your time is precious, and this drama is way too boring and wishy washy for you to spend hours watching it. the writer wrote the FL and ML in such a weird way. In the beginning, the ML really hated the sight of the FL, and somehow the viewers are supposed just to accept it when he actually has always been in love with her? The FL on the other hand, never seems to ever like the ML in a romantic way, its kind of like she just feels sorry for him and gives in to the thought of being with him. Oh, and apparently they're both in their mid-thirties, but show absolutely no signs of it. The way they acted in high school and in the present is the exact same...
All in all, you are better off closing your eyes and dreaming of Jung Haein in your dreams than watching this. I'm sure your subconscious brain would come up with a better romance.
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